Speeches

Questions Without Notice: Broadband

August 14, 2017

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland) (16:09): I think the problem for those opposite that they fail to grasp here is that they've now been in power for four years. Yes, more people are connecting to the NBN. And that is effectively the problem: more people are connecting and realising what a dud this NBN is. And there are many customers out there disappointed with the lacklustre response they get from the NBN. Today, I think what we saw from Senator...

Adjournment - Cyclone Debbie

August 08, 2017

Four months ago Queensland was devastated by Tropical Cyclone Debbie. I'm sure we all recall the headlines and saw the television footage of entire towns that had been flooded, homes made unlivable and businesses forced to shut their doors. It wasn't long ago, but it looks like this current government has a very short memory when it comes to the Cyclone Debbie recovery effort.

Adjournment - Turnbull Government

June 20, 2017

I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the coming anniversary of the election of the Turnbull government, because whilst we are on our break the 12th month since the Turnbull government was elected will come up. We know what has happened in the last couple of weeks. We have seen the dysfunction and disunity on the Finkel report. We have seen the dysfunction and disunity this week with regard to Gonski 2.0. But I wanted to focus on what...

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Energy

June 19, 2017

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland) (16:40): The export gas industry in Queensland has really driven economic growth over the past decade. We have seen particularly in Gladstone the development of export facilities by a number of companies that have created thousands of jobs in that area and economic opportunity for the region. Since those facilities came into operation they have employed substantially fewer people than they did during the construc...

MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Mining Industry: Adani

May 09, 2017

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland) (16:21): It is always a pleasure to follow Senator Macdonald. We well know that Winton in Western Queensland is the home of a dinosaur museum, but there are other dinosaur exhibits in regional Queensland—particularly in Townsville, where Senator Macdonald is from. It is pleasing to follow him after his endorsement of Premier Palaszczuk, a very good friend of mine. He neglected to mention the great work of the May...

ADJOURNMENT - Steel and Aluminium Imports

March 28, 2017

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland) (19:35): I rise to speak on an issue that is incredibly important to Australia, the future of the metals-manufacturing industry in this country. In the metals-manufacturing sector, steel and aluminium play a vital part in the Australian economy, particularly in regional Australia. You only need to look to see the vital role that steel plays in a number of regional communities and economies from Newcastle to Wollo...